15 Dark games like Darkest Dungeon® that you should try

It shares the essentials of what Darkest Dungeon® does: punishing difficulty, tactical combat and a medieval setting. Both also lean on single-player focus and 2D presentation. The distance is in setting — its own ground is a cartoon aesthetic.

What brings it close to Darkest Dungeon® is punishing difficulty, tactical combat and a medieval setting, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and tone. The common ground extends to single-player focus and 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is setting: a cartoon aesthetic.

The resemblance to Darkest Dungeon® is about as close as this list gets: they line up on genre, combat and game mode. The common ground extends to fantasy world and single-player focus.

The resemblance to Darkest Dungeon® is about as close as this list gets: they line up on genre, combat and game mode. The common ground extends to fantasy world and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is setting and tone: a sci-fi setting.

If Darkest Dungeon® worked for you because of strong narrative focus, tactical combat and fantasy world, the same is here. The common ground extends to single-player focus and 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is visuals: an isometric view.

If Darkest Dungeon® worked for you because of strong narrative focus, procedural generation and tactical combat, the same is here. Both also lean on fantasy world and single-player focus. The distance is in progression and setting — its own ground is resource management and pixel art.

Genre puts it alongside Darkest Dungeon®, and so does dark, oppressive atmosphere, tactical combat and horror setting. Both also lean on single-player focus. The distance is in visuals and setting — its own ground is a cyberpunk setting and a third-person camera.

It comes from the same genre as Darkest Dungeon® and shares dark, oppressive atmosphere, tactical combat and horror setting. To that it adds single-player focus. They part company on visuals and setting: this one brings a sci-fi setting and a third-person camera.

What brings it close to Darkest Dungeon® is dark, oppressive atmosphere, procedural generation and tactical combat, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and world. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. They part company on setting and tone: this one brings post-apocalyptic world.

Same family as Darkest Dungeon®: dark, oppressive atmosphere, procedural generation and tactical combat. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. The distance is in setting and tone — its own ground is a sci-fi setting and an isometric view.

On paper it is what Darkest Dungeon® is — dark, oppressive atmosphere, procedural generation and tactical combat — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and fantasy world. Where the two diverge is visuals and progression: a sandbox world and base building.

It comes from the same genre as Darkest Dungeon® and shares dark, oppressive atmosphere, tactical combat and fantasy world. Both also lean on single-player focus. The distance is in visuals and tone — its own ground is an isometric view.

It comes from the same genre as Darkest Dungeon® and shares dark, oppressive atmosphere, tactical combat and horror setting. To that it adds single-player focus. They part company on visuals and setting: this one brings a sci-fi setting and an isometric view.

Same family as Darkest Dungeon®: dark, oppressive atmosphere, tactical combat and fantasy world. The common ground extends to single-player focus. Where the two diverge is progression and visuals: skill tree progression and an isometric view.

On paper it is what Darkest Dungeon® is — dark, oppressive atmosphere, tactical combat and single-player focus — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. They part company on visuals and tone: this one brings an isometric view.